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While the children were making the list… I figured it might take quite some time, so I thought I’d find a way to pass the time.

The original plan was to leisurely visit all the kids, but it wouldn’t be right to disturb them while they’re working.

So.

“Are you ready for the journey?”

I appeared before the boy with the cow horns.

Since the skull mask shaped like a cow had been smashed and was gone, the large boy, Asterios, was now showing his face.

It had only been seven days, but his face seemed significantly brighter, as if he had let go of a lot of built-up tension.

“Yeah. I’ve got everything ready.”

Asterios said this while pointing to the huge pouch and the small pouches he had nearby. Since it looked like a time without proper backpacks or anything, it seemed like he had just stuffed everything haphazardly into the big pouch.

“This is bedding stuffed with wool, and these are dried food rations, and this is a pot for cooking that Mother prepared… along with a bunch of other stuff. It’s a bit much, but… it’s manageable to carry.”

Hmm. It was indeed a bit much. Unless you were Asterios’s size, it would be hard to carry all that.

But.

“There wasn’t any need to prepare this much. Well, it’s fine.”

I snapped my fingers lightly, and Asterios’s load suddenly vanished.

“Ah?! The luggage?!”

“I’ve put it in my space, so don’t worry. It’s more convenient like this than carrying it around.”

“Oh, okay… I understand.”

Asterios accepted this surprisingly easily. Considering the amazing things he’d seen me do before, perhaps he wouldn’t be too shocked.

“Have you said goodbye to your parents?”

“Yeah. I finished before Tia came.”

“Good. Then we can depart right away.”

If there was no further preparation needed, all that was left was to set off quickly.

So then….

“Oh! Wait a second. I need to take my axe.”

“Axe?”

“Yep. My weapon.”

Saying that, Asterios briefly went into the room next door and emerged holding a massive axe.

It was a huge double-edged axe made of bronze. It looked heavy enough to be unmanageable for an average adult.

But where did Asterios even get such an axe? From the maze?

“Where did you get that?”

“This axe? Well, it belonged to someone who entered the maze. I saved a person who could no longer fight because their arm got chopped off, and they gave it to me.”

Hmm… Bringing something like that into the maze? That seems a bit insane.

Swinging such a massive axe freely in the maze would probably lead to getting stuck against walls or ceilings, which sounds dangerous.

Regardless of my thoughts, Asterios tied the axe to his back with a leather strap.

Hmm. That’s all well and good, but about his outfit… it’s a bit troublesome.

Maybe it’s just the unique fashion of this island, but it’s generally rather revealing. A big boy wearing only shorts… that’s a bit embarrassing to be seen with.

So.

I snapped my fingers.

“Huh?!”

“Stay still.”

I dressed him in a baggy white t-shirt, with armor made of iron on his shoulders and chest, and the rest being leather.

Then I added greaves to protect his shins and armguards to cover from wrist to elbow.

Shoes? Hmm. Those leather lace sandals he usually wears should suffice.

Honestly, going barefoot doesn’t seem like a problem either.

Lastly, I wrapped a cloak made of leather around him.

Yeah. This looks way better than exposing his bare legs. He’s still wearing the shorts, though.

“This is…?”

“It’s my gift to you. Now, let’s get going!”

Alright. It’s time for our journey to explore the world.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

And so, I set off on a journey with Asterios.

Having lived confined in a narrow maze, Asterios seemed curious about everything in the world, firing questions left and right while I answered as best as I could as we moved forward.

On our journey, we encountered many people and met plenty of monsters, but… most of those monsters were split in half by Asterios like firewood. A trivial matter. A trivial matter.

We traversed the plains, visited cities, passed through canyons, and crossed mountain ranges.

Each encounter showed us more. More variety.

During the process, there were times we mediated disputes between elves and dwarves, and even when a dwarf who thought he had helped us reforged Asterios’s axe. But, not that important.

Anyway, while we were continuing on our way…

“I have been waiting.”

As we journeyed eastward over a gigantic mountain range, a group of gods appeared before me.

“Who are you?”

Asterios, startled by the sudden appearance of a group of gods, raised his axe, but I gently gestured for him to move behind me.

“It seems you’ve come looking for me. For now, remain silent.”

“Ah, okay…”

With most problems having been solved by smashing them with his axe, Asterios usually led the way whenever something appeared.

But it wouldn’t do to act like that with gods.

“So. Have you been waiting for me?”

“Yes. Child born from the golden egg.”

Hmm? Golden egg? What’s that?

While it is true that I was born from an egg, still…

“You are the heart that has moved and maintained the world, and you are here to mark its end.”

“I think you’ve got the wrong person.”

The god speaking the cryptic words was unfamiliar, but the ones beside him were gods I remembered naming before.

Ah, they were the gods from Indian mythology.

“Even if you deny it, it doesn’t matter. What’s important isn’t that.”

“Hmmm?”

The leading god knelt before me, continuing his speech.

“I know you intend to change the world again.”

Hmmm? What’s this? Did the word get out?

“The age of gods acting indiscriminately is coming to an end, and you will usher in an era for humans.”

“Hmmm… Are you here to stop that?”

“No. Not at all. We couldn’t stop it if we tried, and we must not put a stop to such changes.”

The god in front continued calmly.

“Everything in this world changes endlessly and undergoes cycles of reincarnation. I know that even if my individual existence ends here, it is not the end, so I will never be discouraged nor will I give up.”

He looked up at me, lifting his bowed head.

“So, I, Indra, representative of Lokapala and bearer of the emotions of the sky, plead with you, the most revered being in this world.”

He, Indra, said with a serious expression.

“Please, do not give up on this world.”

Following his words, the other gods behind Indra echoed, “Do not give up!”

What are these guys doing? Why are they acting like this? I’m completely lost.

To begin with, why would I ever give up on this world? Well, I mean, I’m a bit mad about Baal’s situation, but still!

“I’m not about to give up! After all, I’m one of those living in this world!”

“Please promise us. That you will never give up.”

Indra and the others seemed unsatisfied with just my words, and now they were prostrating themselves on the ground, begging.

Hmm. I don’t quite understand why they’re acting like this, but well, I’m certainly not going to give up.

So I guess it’s fine to make a half-hearted promise.

“Okay, okay. I got it. I promise, so get up already!”

“You promise. You have promised.”

“Yeah! Alright! I promise!”

Only after this little commotion did Indra and the other gods stand up.

“Then, while we await the eventual conclusion of the gods, we shall bestow a small blessing upon the one accompanying you, noble one.”

“Uh? Me?”

Wait, suddenly to Asterios?

“Child who will walk the glorious path. Receive the blessing of me, Indra. And for a longer time… serve the will of the noble one.”

With that, dazzling lightning shot forth from Indra and struck Asterios directly.

“Wah?!”

Asterios, who got hit by the lightning, looked slightly surprised but didn’t seem to be hurt at all.

“This is…?”

“You will become one of those who protect the world after the age of gods has ended. I hope my power can help you in even a little way.”

As the connection between them faded, the lightning that had linked them for a moment snapped.

“Well then, we shall take our leave. Please, noble one, keep your promise.”

Saying this, Indra and the other gods vanished.

Hmm… I really don’t understand what they came for or why they blessed Asterios, but…

Well, I guess it doesn’t need much concern.

After all… many gods are bound to vanish, and it seems those gods had an inkling of their own future.

Since they’re likely going to disappear, worrying about them would probably be a loss.

So.

“It was a bit of a surprising ordeal, but let’s keep moving.”

“Oh, okay.”

Asterios, still in shock from the electric jolt, began to move forward, his mind still in a daze.

 

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